The patrons of Ortelle are Saint George and Saint Fortunatus of Lecce, celebrated together on 18 August.
On the fourth Sunday of October comes the Fiera di San Vito, one of the oldest fairs in Puglia, active for several centuries: documents of the County of Castro record that on that occasion commercial activities were taxed on condition that the Count himself was present. In the first ten days of August comes the Festa della Pirilla. The town overlooks the Costa Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca e Bosco di Tricase Regional Nature Park, and holds the Parco delle Querce di Castro.
